The __De Re Militari__ of Vegetius: The Reception, Transmission and Legacy of a Roman Text in the Middle Ages

"Vegetius' late Roman text became a well known and highly respected 'classic' in the Middle Ages, transformed by its readers into the authority on the waging of war. Christopher Allmand analyses the medieval afterlife of the De re militari, tracing the growing interest in the text from the Carolingian world to the late Middle Ages, suggesting how the written word may have influenced the development of military practice in that period. While emphasising that success depended on a commander's ability to outwit the enemy with a carefully selected, well trained and disciplined army, the De re militari inspired other unexpected developments, such as that of the 'national' army, and helped create a context in which the role of the soldier assumed greater social and political importance. Allmand explores the significance of the text and the changes it brought for those who accepted the implications of its central messages"-- "Little is known about Publius Vegetius Renatus. He was probably born in the mid fourth century AD, possibly in Spain. Although familiar with the language of the army, it is unlikely that he was ever a soldier or had practical military experience. He was, rather, a member of the bureaucratic elite at the imperial court, bearing the title 'Flavius', which identifies him as a public servant, as does the title 'comes', found in one branch of the manuscript tradition. It is likely, however, that he had experience of the recruitment, administration and provisioning of armies, for these receive much of his attention. From the Mulomedicina, a work on veterinary medicine which he almost certainly wrote, we learn that he was a much travelled man. From the evidence of the De re militari, it appears that he also appreciated literature, as his references to the works of Virgil and Sallust testify"-- "Vegetius' late Roman text became a well known and highly respected 'classic' in the Middle Ages, transformed by its readers into the authority on the waging of war. Christopher Allmand analyses the medieval afterlife of the De re militari, tracing the growing interest in the text from the Carolingian world to the late Middle Ages, suggesting how the written word may have influenced the development of military practice in that period. While emphasising that success depended on a commander's ability to outwit the enemy with a carefully selected, well trained and disciplined army, the De re militari inspired other unexpected developments, such as that of the 'national' army, and helped create a context in which the role of the soldier assumed greater social and political importance. Allmand explores the significance of the text and the changes it brought for those who accepted the implications of its central messages"-- Provided by publisher "Vegetius' late Roman text became a well known and highly respected 'classic' in the Middle Ages, transformed by its readers into the authority on the waging of war. Christopher Allmand analyses the medieval afterlife of the De re militari, tracing the growing interest in the text from the Carolingian world to the late Middle Ages, suggesting how the written word may have influenced the development of military practice in that period. While emphasising that success depended on a commander's ability to outwit the enemy with a carefully selected, well trained and disciplined army, the De re militari inspired other unexpected developments, such as that of the 'national' army, and helped create a context in which the role of the soldier assumed greater social and political importance. Allmand explores the significance of the text and the changes it brought for those who accepted the implications of its central messages"-- Site de l'éditeur "Little is known about Publius Vegetius Renatus. He was probably born in the mid fourth century AD, possibly in Spain. Although familiar with the language of the army, it is unlikely that he was ever a soldier or had practical military experience. He was, rather, a member of the bureaucratic elite at the imperial court, bearing the title 'Flavius', which identifies him as a public servant, as does the title 'comes', found in one branch of the manuscript tradition. It is likely, however, that he had experience of the recruitment, administration and provisioning of armies, for these receive much of his attention. From the Mulomedicina, a work on veterinary medicine which he almost certainly wrote, we learn that he was a much travelled man. From the evidence of the De re militari, it appears that he also appreciated literature, as his references to the works of Virgil and Sallust testify"-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Figures 8 Preface 10 Abbreviations 13 Introduction 14 Part I. The medieval reception 24 1. General remarks on the manuscripts 26 2. Analysis of the manuscripts 30 3. A particular response to the De re militari...and its influence 60 4. Bedfellows 69 5. Owners and their texts 76 Part II. The transmission 94 6. Particular uses of the De re militari 96 7. Translations 161 8. Texts, drawings and illuminations 210 9. Excerpts 226 10. Vegetius in print 252 Part III. The legacy: the De re militari in medieval military thought and practice 262 11. The development of Vegetian influence 264 Appendix I. Table of select terms used in translations of the De re militari 362 Appendix II. List of manuscripts of the De re militari 367 Bibliography 380 Index 407 Part I. The medieval reception : General remarks on the manuscripts Analysis of the manuscripts A particular response to the De re militari... and its influence Bedfellows Owners and their texts Part II. The transmission : Particular uses of the De re militari Translations Texts, drawings, and illumination Excerpts Vegetius in print Part III. The Legacy, the De re militari in medieval military thought and practice : Introduction. Vegetius' late Roman text became a best-selling military 'classic' in the Middle Ages, and this fascinating study explores its reception and transmission. Although always read principally as a work offering practical military advice, the text was also transformed into an authority on war and inspired unexpected developments in the medieval world. This book explores the medieval legacy of Vegetius' late Roman text, transformed by its readers into the authority on war